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The Dark Remains

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The Dark Remains

By: William McIlvanney, Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Brian Cox, William McIlvanney
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About this listen

In this scorching crime hook-up, number one best seller Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first ever case of DI Laidlaw, Glasgow’s original gritty detective.

Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he’s dead, and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter’s left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow?

DC Jack Laidlaw’s reputation precedes him. He’s not a team player, but he’s got a sixth sense for what’s happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes.

William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw’s first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow and Laidlaw’s relentless quest for truth.

©2021 William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin (P)2021 Canongate Books Ltd Crime Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Private Investigators
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A good book, but it's not up to the excellence of either author. A little cumbersome.

A whole not as good as its parts.

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This was the first I knew of William McIlvanney when I heard of Ian Rankin being asked to finish Laidlaw’s First Case.
There is no doubt that this was the beginning of Tartan Noir and it’s obvious how this would influence Scottish writers we know today.
I shall definitely be obtaining the completed Laidlaw’s and look forward to hearing them.
The grittiness and characterisation brings to life Laidlaw’s Scotland and it is good to have com across a gem of which I was unaware.

Undiscovered McIlvanney

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Loved this book. Laidlaw is a thoughtful detective with a messed up family life similar to that of John Rebus. This is the first book but I am now anxious to get into the next story. I'm hopeful the character will develop further and I feel I shall be hooked as I was with Rebus. A great listen

Another Rebus

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Im still mystified why Brian Cox is galloping thru this well written prose so fast! Even slowed to 0.7 & being Scots too Im struggling to enjoy it. I didn’t think he could do any wrong frankly. He should have listened to the authors laconic style & pace reading the first Laidlaw and brought some of that to the performance. Is there a Razzy for audiobooks?
Tale is a classic & Ian Rankin has made it complete with a delicate and skilful hand/pen

Brian Cox has done a speed reading course, hasnt he?

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Very enjoyable backstory of Laidlaw, completed by Ian Rankin in the same style as the original William McIlvanney books. Nicely read by Brian Cox.

Excellent

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